Stunning Conditions in Miami — Melges 20s Rock Biscayne Bay

MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2018) - The second day of racing at the 2017-18 Melges 20 Miami Winter Series hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) spawned another fantastic three races to bring the total completed to six. And, with the sixth race counted, the typical lowest score of each team is discarded making the day all the more worthwhile, keeping spectators in suspense.

Overnight event leader and reigning Melges 20 World Champion Drew Freides on PACIFIC YANKEE keeps the lead after another successful day on the water. He and his team, which includes tactician Morgan Reeser and crew Charlie Smythe, delivered yet another consistent daily performance (2-3-2) carrying an eight point advantage into Sunday’s final races.

The daily race wins however go to three varied teams — beginning with Alexis Michas’ MIDNIGHT SUN grabbing a bullet in Race Four over Freides, followed by Daniel Thielman’s KUAI in third.

Race Five was as intense as it can get with Russia’s Vladimir Prosikhin at the helm of NIKA fighting hard and holding off an all-out, all-race-long assault from Freides. A very strong and tough competitor in his own right, Prosikhin went on to win over Achille Onorato’s MASCALZONE LATINO, JR. in second, chased relentlessly by Freides.

Prosikhin’s fellow countryman Yurri Morozov on RUSSOTRANS had a banner race for the final heat of the day. He successfully beat out Freides who settled for second, while 2017 Melges 20 World League Champion Igor Rytov aboard RUSSIAN BOGATYRS rallied in the moderately breezy conditions to take third.

As the fleet anticipates the final day of competition, Freides has a nice lead over the fleet with more point separation between second overall Prosikhin and third place Onorato. The points get even tighter between Michas in fourth and Thielman rounding out the top five.

Sunday marks the final day of racing in Miami and will conclude two of the three stages in the 2017 Melges 20 Miami Winter Series.